Veneer machine



Nov. 15, 1932. HARTZELL 1,887,682

VENEER MAQHINE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1931 lNVENTbR 5 ROBERT M HARTZELL.

ATTORNEYS ROBERT N. HARTZELL, F Prawn,

-one end of a log or Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED ESTATES PATENT, oFFI E VENEER MACHINE This invention relates to improvements in f machines for cutting or forming veneer, and

has for its object to provide a machine in p which there is a stationary knife to which a veneer piece is applied in such a manner that a strip of veneer is out from the end of the log.

It is particularly the object of this invention to provide, in connection with a veneer machine, a cone-shaped knife which is adapted to support one end of a work piece or log from which the veneer is cut, while there is also provided, in connection with the cutter, means for supporting the other end of the log and causing it to rotate and gyrate around the axis of the cone-shaped cutter.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for rotating and gyrating one end'of a log about the cutter and removing the veneer strip from the work from the same source of power that rotates the log or work.

These and other advantages'will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a section on the line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus. I

In order to provide supports for the apparatus or veneer formingmechanism there is provided plurality of standards 1, 2, 3 and 4, which form a supporting frame. On this frame, near the bottom, is a platform 5 which has thereon a bearing .6. Resting on this bearing gear 8 adapted to rotate horizontal position. V

Immediately above the gear is a carrier 9, which receives the strips of veneer as they are cut from the work is supported on the bearing in a above the gear by means of a friction plate or clutch 10 and rotates thereby with the gear. Meshing with the gear is a pinion 11 located on a vertical shaft 12 supported on the platform 5 and by a frame 16, later to be described.- Continuous with the shaft712 is an armature shaft 13 on a motor above the platform cutter is serted in the is, the log is inclined to is a collar 7, which supports a or log. This carrier 01:10, ASSIGNOR TO nnnrznnr. INDUSTRIES, mic..- or PIQUA, 01110, A CORPORATION or 01110 r and this application filed Serial No. 581,900. 1

14. This armature shaft hasa pinion 15 "which meshes with a gear .17.

The frame 16 is supported by the standards 5 andlis used for supporting the motor, such as the gear 17 ,a shaft 40.and av cutter 18. This cutter is located intermediate the s'tandards and is'coni-cal in shape, with a slot inone-side and a knife or cutter adjacent the slot. The

on the frame 16. The slot in the cutter is indicated by the numeral 20, j I

On one side of the slot is a guidebar21, while on the other side and extending into the slot is a knife 22for cuttingveneer from a log supported in and by the cone-shaped cutter. The cutter is vertically dispose'd and the transmission parts is supported by the frame16. f It .1

supported'by means of. flanges 19 1 has an axis23 which extends vertically up wardly from the cutter.

cutter is a work piece 24:. Inthe present in- Supported by the stance this work is a log or pole from which veneer'strips are to be out. One end of the logor work piece-is suitably shaped and incone shaped' cutter, and is supported thereby inan inclined position; that the vertical and also at an angle to the sides of the cone-shaped knife'or cutter; I i 7 J 7 By thismeans as the log or work piece rotates and gyrates a strip is, cut from the end extending into-the cutter so that by four rotations of the wood piece a complete strip of veneer, substantially square, is out having thereon four symmetrically arranged groups 1 of wood gra1ns,. as shown and described in my copending application, of which this isa division, Ser. 193l. I i j r The axis ofthe work is indicated by the numeral 25 and is supported at its upper end by means :o'fa capfmember 26, as shown in Figure 2. On each of-the standardsl, 2, 3 and 4 is a trackway 27 adapted to guide a carriage 28, which has on each end a roller 29 so that the carriage and down in the ;trackway. Thereare four of these carriages, one for each standard and tra'ckway. x 1 f Attached to the carriages by means of suit No. 511,238, filed January 26,

may easily moveup able arms is a crosshead 30, on which is a weight 31 tending to force the crosshead and carriages downwardly, and force the log or work piece into the cone-shaped cutter. Located centrally in the crosshead is a spindle 32 in line with the axis of the coneshaped cutter. This spindle is fixed and has fixed thereto a gear 33, the axis of which is in line with the axis 23 of the cutter.

Supported by the spindle for rotation around it is a gear case 34. This gear case incloses, or partly incloses, the gear 33 and rotates thereabout, and as it rotates about the gear a pinion 35, located'on a shaft 36 extending through the case,- is caused to rotate by engaging with the gear 33. This shaft'36 connects with the member 26 so that when the pinion 35 and shaft 36 rotate, due tothe rotation of the case about the gear, the log or work piecewill rotate, and also revolve about the'axis of-the cutter.

' Extending from the shaft '36 is a link 37, one end of which is attached to the shaft 36 by means of a strap 38, while the other end is attached to the free end of a crank 39 located on the upper end of a shaft 40, which is operated by the driving gear 17. The upper end of shaft 40 is supported by means of a bracket 41, which extends from the lower ends of two adjacent carriages 28 The shaft 40 is supported loosely on the bracket 41 so that as the crosshead moves downwardly the bracket will slide along the shaft 40. The veneer strip as it is cut from the wood or log is indicated by the numeral 42 and is received on the carrier 9, from which it may be discharged in any suitable manner.

In Figure 2 a piece of timber, such as a pole or log, is shown in a tilted or inclined position with its lower end supported in a cone-shaped cutter. The cutter is stationary. The log is inclined to the axis of the cutter and also to the wall of thecutter so that as the log 'gyrates' all parts of the lower end will be cut. The log is caused to'rotate and revolve around the of the cutter, and the axis of the gear 33 by means of the motor, through the gear 17, shaft 40, crank 39 and link 37.

- This link acts as a pitman which causes the rotation of the case 34. As the case 34 rotates the pinion is caused torot ate and carry with it the shaft 36, which is rigid with the pinion. This shaft causes the log to rotate. The rotation of the case causes the log to revolve about the axis of the. gear so that the log has a rotating and swinging movement. As the log or work piece is cut the weight 31 causes the head to press the log against the cutter, thereby continuously feeding the log from which the veneer is cut.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of my claims and my invention I Having thus fully described my invention,- what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a method of cutting veneer, holding a cone guide stationary with its axis in a vertical plane, causing a work piece having a conical end to travel bodily about said axis at an angle thereto, the axis of said conical end coinciding wlth the axis of the guide,'and

simultaneously rotating said work piece on lts own axls and cutting a Veneer strip from the conical end of sa1d work piece by a cuttingmeans lying in the face of said cone.

I 2 In a method of cutting veneer, guiding a work piece having a conical end so that the axis of said work piece describes'a cone about a centralaxis, the latter coinciding with the axis of the conical end of the work piece, rotating said work piece about its own axis during the movement, and cuttingaveneer strip from the surface of said work piece by locating a cutter in the plane of its conical rotation.

3. In a veneer machine, a stationary inclined cutter blade, means for supporting and holding one end of a log from which veneer is to be out against the cutter blade, nd means for supporting the other end of the log and causing it to gyrate.

4. in a veneer machine,a stationary inclined cutter blade, means for supporting and holding one end of a log from which veneer is to be cut against the cutter blade, means for supporting the other end of the log and causing it to gyrate, and means to cause i the log to move endwise against the blade.

5. In a veneer machine, a stationary conical cutter adapted to support one end ofa log from which veneer is to be cut, means to support and gyrate the other end of the log, and means to press the log longitudinally into the conical cutter.

6. In a veneer machine, a stationaryconical cutter having a vertical axis and adapted to support one end of a work piece, and means to support the other end of the. work piece and 'gyrate it around the axis of the cutter and at anangle to the side of the cutter.

7 In a veneer machine, a stationary conical cutter having a vertical axis and adapt.- ed to support one end of a work piece, means to support the other end of the work piece and gyrate it around the axis of the cutter and at an angle to the side of the cutter, and means to press the work piece against the cutter. j

8. In a veneer machine, a frame, a stationary conical cutter having a vertical axis and adapted to support one end of a work piece, a head member loosely mounted on the frame, means'on the head member to support the other end of the work piece and gyrate it around the axis of the cutter and at an angle to the side of the cutter, and means acting on the head to her for support-ing the other end of said work piece, and means for causing the last-named means to rotate and revolve around the out ter axis, whereby the other end of the work lece rates.

In a veneer machine, a frame,*a station- 5 ary cutter comprising an inclined blade sup ported by said frame, ahead member sup ported by said frame above theblade for v movement to and from the blade, a gear fixed to said head having its axis in line with the remote end of the gear, a pin- With the gear, means connected to said pinion for engaging one end of a work piece while the other end is supported by the lower end of the blade, and means for rotating the casing, whereby the first-named end of the work piece will rotate and revolve about the axis of the gear.

11. In a veneer machine, a frame, a stationary conical cutter having an axis and adapted to support one end of a work piece, a head member slidably supported by said frame, a gearhaving an axis in line with the;

cutter axis fixed to said head member, a casing rotatably supported about the axis of the gear, a pinion rotatably mounted insaid casing in mesh with the gear, means connected to said pinion for engaging the other end of the work piece to rotate when the pinion rotates, and means to cause the casing to rotate about the gear axis, whereby the pinion will rotate and revolve about the axes. 1

12. In a veneer machine, a frame, a sta tionary conical adapted to supportone end of ajwork piece, a head member slidably supportedby said frame, a gear having an axis in line with the cutter axis fixed to said head member, a casing rotatably supported about the axis of the gear, a pinion rotatably mounted in said casing and in mesh nected to the pinion for engagingthe other end of the work piece to rotate about the gear axis, whereby the cutter. o

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

ROBERT N. HARTZELL.

mounted on the head mem-j blade, a casing rotatably supported about the axis of said ion rotatably mounted in said casing in mesh cutter having an axis and V withthe gear, means conthe pinion will rotate and revolve about the axes, and means operating on the head member to press the work against 

